When you open carry, do people tend to leave you alone? And other questions...

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Beethoven

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I just got hassled several times within about 1/2 hour today, which normally NEVER happens in my part of town.

I found myself wishing that I had my M1A slung across my back to get people to leave me alone, particularly the shady-looking ones.

I was wondering if those of you who open carry could share your experiences in general, as well as answer these specific questions:

1) Do you ever get hassled for money or whatever when you are openly carrying a sidearm?

2) Do other people in general give you a wider berth than when you are carrying concealed?

Unfortunately, open carry isn't an option in my communist country, I'm just curious.....

Thanks!
 
Well, while open carry is not listed as illegal, per se, in PA it is probably unwise to try it much most places. Thus I am concealed everywhere but home.

That said, when I do not need a cover garment at home and around home - I am open carry and really do not worry about it - my property - my rules.

I did get an odd look from one or two - there's a guy who brings my office propane delivery, who looks macho - did in fact look very ''uncomfortable'' when he first saw this on a delivery - I guess he is used to it now :)

One UPS guy had a minor freek-out but otherwise I doubt there is much reaction. I am not prepared to have to conceal when at home - love me - love my gun :D

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, small after thought - hunting season - big humungous rig, for one of my cannons - which I am obliged then to have as open carry. No big deal - deer season most folks expect to see guns all over the place.

I guess it is the ''small'' handguns that are most likely to freak out the whimps ;)
 
I carry openly about a third of the time. Except for one woman on a paint crew who was merely curious, a guy in a hardware store who was ringing up a sale, and my fellow bullseye shooters, no one has ever noticed—and my main open carry gun is a pre-agreement Smith & Wesson model 629, not a mouse gun. The guy in the hardware store looked surprised, but didn't say a word about the gun or seem hostile.

Where I live in Colorado, panhandlers aren't welcome. I assume they're happier in Denver, the wannabe San Francisco of the Rocky Mountains.
 
Well, I don't generally get "hassled" anyhow. Most folks who don't know me don't seem interested in chatting. Could be the scowl.
But, nobody has said anything to me regarding my choice of open carry. I don't do it a lot , per se, but occasionally. So far, no encounters, good, bad or otherwise. People just don't notice, I guess.
 
I was open carrying one time while at home and answered the door to a kid (I'd say 17 years old or so, he was also with a female companion) trying to sell me a newspaper subscription. I had my 1911 strapped to my hip at the time, and the whole time he was going through his speech, he kept glancing nervously towards my gun, then up to my eyes, back down to the gun, etc. I had to restrain from bursting out laughing, because I had never seen someone so nervous in my life. After he finished, I told him that I already had a supscription, and he was so relieved to get out of there.
 
Only remarks I have gotten is small kids asking if it was real and a few curious folks wanting to know exactly what model I was carrying. Generally most folks don't show any signs of ever noticing the handgun.
 
In the 13 years i opened carried in
phoenix i doubt more than couple
people even noticed.I did carry in
a way that made it hard to see
unless you looked real close.
 
I used to carry openly when on my motorcycle trips in Utah, Montana, Idaho, and Arizona.

At first it was no big deal. But, after more Californians and foreigners started visiting these states, I noticed more reactions. When I'd pull into one of the scenic overlooks, people would get in their cars and leave, or just give me a wide berth.

The last straw for me was when a bunch of German guys in an RV kept following me around and videotaping me.

The next year, I got my FL permit and carried concealed.
 
Monkeyleg said:
At first it was no big deal. But, after more Californians and foreigners started visiting these states, I noticed more reactions.
Click to expand...
You are right about that. I remember seeing people open carry a whole lot more when I was young, and it was never a big deal except to the occasional excitable snowbird.

I suspect the change is not only because of the California of Arizona by newcomers, but also because the CCW law has reduced the social acceptability of open carry.

Kind of a shame really.
 
I have been pleasantly suprised with how positive people's reactions have been in Santa Fe, which is full of hippies leftists, etc. I think that as long as you are friendly, most everyone wil be friendly back. Though I often wonder how many people just think I am a cop.
 
Not harrassed, but people do inquire.

Usually, no one notices it at all but fellow shooters (who notice right away). Occasionally someone will come up and ask me to clarify for them what the law is (they just don't understand if they need to get a permit or not). I only had someone harrass me once - and I was with a large group (mostly fellow THRs) all carrying at the time.. I've had a couple of people stare at me (and one nervous commie mommie bitch run away with her kids at Ikea in Woodbridge, VA where we subsequently bumped into her at each little stop, of course I was also wearing my celebrate diversity shirt :D )
 
I have a CCW too, but am in Tucson mostly in the summer when it's too hot to wear enough clothes to conceal properly, (especially the larger guns I like to carry, 1911, P-35, Glock17). Tucson is still pretty good, unlike Phoenix, which is just an extension of California.

I've never had any problems, even in big department stores.
 
I am in agreement with Mad Chemist. Open carry is legal in my state (VA) but it is something that I never do. In fact, I don't personally know anyone that does! Open carry is a legal right and will defend it, though. From the posts I've read here on this subject it appears that many who open carry do it so they can catalog the public's reaction to their exposed firearm, or lack of reaction, and report on it here. I also believe that many open carry as a result of the LEO wannabe syndrom. Just my opinion, right or wrong.
DRC
 
In Phoenix I have had a few people make comments but I have never been harrassed. One time at Taco Bell the register worker asked if my SA Loaded was a BB gun. I can give the guy a little credit, my SA is OD green and when I first got it, most people had never seen that before.
One time in a video store, the clerk ws laughing at my "Sarcasm....it beats killing people" shirt until I payed, which showed him my gun. His laughter imediatly stopped and he didnt say another word.
FYI it is company policy at Best Buy not to allow firearms even though they dont post it, or so I was told by the manager.
 
Namvet said:
Open carry is legal in my state (VA) but it is something that I never do. In fact, I don't personally know anyone that does!
Click to expand...

You do now. :neener:

Per VA law I open carry in restaurants that serve alcohol. I've found over the years that most people either don't notice as they're in condition white. The few who do notice think I'm some sort of LEO.
 
I open carried

In Arizona prior to getting my Florida non-res permit. I kept it at app. 4:00 position and tried to not make a big deal out of it. There was one couple however who noticed and were laughing. Might have been the Bigon frizee (picture all white mini-poodle type dog)I had on a leash and the Firestorm .45 mini-compact on my hip. Big bad macho tough guy ya know!:D
 
C-grunt said:
FYI it is company policy at Best Buy not to allow firearms even though they dont post it, or so I was told by the manager.
Click to expand...

Best Buy's worldwide headquarters in Richfield, MN is WELL POSTED! All entrances are posted according to MN law and I believe most, if not all entrances are equipped with their very own metal detector.
 
I'm amazed at the number of people who don't recognize/register that you are carrying openly. (esp. if you use a flap-style holster cross-draw... they don't notice it until they see the bullets across the back)

Most places in Rural Colorado it's NEVER an issue... though once in a while on a hiking trail you find some people who look a little uneasy.

One morning at Hardees in La Junta the young lady behind the counter asked me if my hogleg was a Colt or a Ruger.
 
Bubbles.

I'm talking about friends that are shooting buddies, LEO's and former LEO's and people that work in the firearms business in this area. None of these folks open carry! Granted, this is a not a significant cross-section, but worth noting. Deja vu on the LEO wannabe thing.

DRC
 
I had to carry openly for a few months while waiting for my AZ CCW. I am a retired federal officer (hurt in the line of duty), and when I retired from federal service 8 years ago...Arizona had no provision for retired federal officers to carry concealed. Of course HR 218 was still way off on the horizon. So, as I waited for my AZ CCW...I had to carry openly, or shall we say...not concealed to the letter of AZ law.

I was asked on many occaisions, MANY stupid questions such as:

"What do you got a gun for Dude?"

"Why are you carrying a gun? Are you gonna shoot somebody?"

"Do you have a permit for that gun?"

"Is it registered?"

"Are you some kind of bada$$ carryin' that gun?"

So, yeah...I heard a lot of ignorance spew forth from the uneducated, or misinformed.

Now...obviously, I carry concealed 100% of the time. If I am dressed, I am concealing a gun...or two.
 
I always carry concealed for reasons that have been debated endless times on this and other forums. I believe that the best SD handgun in the world is:
a) The one you have with you when you need it...
b) The one no one *knows* you have with you 'till you need it.

Due to my appearance, I attract enough attention as it is. Don't need anymore.
Biker
 
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